Neoregelia plant named ‘Secret Garden’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Neoregelia  plant named ‘Secret Garden’, characterized by its broad and outwardly arching growth habit; broad leaves that are dark green in color with distinct light yellow green-colored stripes and margins and red purple-colored venation; when flowering, upper leaves are red purple in color; stable leaf color; good interiorscape and landscape performance; and relative resistance to pathogens common to  Neoregelia  plants.

Botanical designation: Neoregelia carolinae×(Neoregelia carolinae×Neoregelia meyendorfii).

Cultivar denomination: ‘SECRET GARDEN’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Neoregelia plant, botanically known as Neoregelia carolinae×(Neoregelia carolinae×Neoregelia meyendorfii), and hereinafter referred to by the name ‘Secret Garden’.

The new Neoregelia plant is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the Inventor in Princeton, Fla. The objective of the breeding program is to create new Neoregelia plants with uniquely colored leaves.

The new Neoregelia plant originated from a cross-pollination made by the Inventor in 2006 in Princeton, Fla. of an unnamed proprietary selection of Neoregelia carolinae, not patented, as the female, or seed, parent with an unnamed proprietary selection of Neoregelia carolinae×Neoregelia meyendorfii, not patented, as the male, or pollen, parent. The new Neoregelia plant was discovered and selected by the Inventor as a single plant within the progeny of the stated cross-pollination in a controlled greenhouse environment in Princeton, Fla. in 2006.

Asexual reproduction of the new Neoregelia plant by offsets in a controlled environment in Princeton, Fla. since 2007, has shown that the unique features of this new Neoregelia plant are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Neoregelia have not been observed under all possible combinations of environmental conditions and cultural practices. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environment conditions such as temperature and light intensity without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘Secret Garden’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘Secret Garden’ as a new and distinct Neoregelia plant:

-   -   1. Broad and outwardly arching growth habit.     -   2. Broad leaves that are dark green in color with distinct light         yellow green-colored stripes and margins and red purple-colored         venation; when flowering, upper leaves are red purple in color;         leaf color is stable.     -   3. Good interiorscape and landscape performance.     -   4. Relatively resistant to pathogens common to Neoregelia         plants.

Plants of the new Neoregelia differ primarily from plants of the female parent selection in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Neoregelia are broader than plants of the         female parent selection.     -   2. Plants of the new Neoregelia have broader leaves than plants         of the female parent selection.     -   3. Leaf color of plants of the new Neoregelia is more stable         than leaf color of plants of the female parent selection.

Plants of the new Neoregelia differ primarily from plants of the male parent selection in leaf color as plants of the male parent selection have green-colored leaves that with red-colored apices.

Plants of the new Neoregelia can be compared to plants of the Neoregelia carolinae ‘Perfecta’, not patented. In side-by-side comparisons conducted in Princeton, Fla., plants of the new Neoregelia and ‘Perfecta’ differed primarily in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Neoregelia have broader leaves than plants         of ‘Perfecta’.     -   2. Plants of the new Neoregelia and ‘Perfecta’ differ in lower         leaf color as plants of ‘Perfecta’ have green and white         variegated leaves.     -   3. Plants of the new Neoregelia are more resistant to Pythium         Root Rot than plants of ‘Perfecta’.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearance of the new Neoregelia plant showing the colors as true as it is reasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in the photographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors of the new Neoregelia plant.

The photograph on the first sheet is a top perspective view of a typical flowering plant of ‘Secret Garden’ grown in a container.

The photograph on the second sheet is a close-up view of a typical flowering plant of ‘Secret Garden’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photographs and following observations, measurements and values describe flowering plants grown during the summer and autumn in 15-cm containers in a polypropylene-covered greenhouse in Princeton, Fla. and under cultural practices typical of commercial Neoregelia production. During the production of the plants, day temperatures ranged from 18° C. to 30° C., night temperatures ranged from 18° C. to 28° C. and light levels ranged from 2,500 to 3,200 foot-candles. Plants were twelve months old when the photographs and description were taken. In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 2007 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Neoregelia carolinae×(Neoregelia     carolinae×Neoregelia meyendorfii) ‘Secret Garden’. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Unnamed proprietary selection of             Neoregelia carolinae, not patented.         -   Male, or pollen, parent.—Unnamed proprietary selection of             Neoregelia carolinae×Neoregelia meyendorfii, not patented. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type.—By offsets.         -   Time to initiate roots, summer.—About 30 to 45 days at             ambient temperatures about 28° C. to 30° C.         -   Time to initiate roots, winter.—About 45 to 60 days at             ambient temperatures about 28° C. to 30° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, summer.—About three             months at ambient temperatures about 28° C. to 30° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, winter.—About four             months at ambient temperatures about 18° C. to 22° C.         -   Root description.—Medium in thickness, fibrous; typically             yellow to beige tan in color, actual color of the roots is             dependent on substrate composition, water quality,             fertilizer type and formulation, substrate temperature and             physiological age of roots.         -   Rooting habit.—Moderately freely branching; medium density. -   Plant description:     -   -   Plant and growth habit.—Broad and outwardly arching growth             habit; rosette leaves are erect when young, becoming arching             in aspect with development; plants readily produce uniform             offsets; vigorous growth habit.         -   Plant height.—About 15.5 cm.         -   Plant diameter or spread.—About 49 cm.         -   Internode length.—About 3 mm.         -   Stem diameter at the soil level.—About 3 cm.         -   Stem texture.—Smooth, glabrous.         -   Stem color.—Close to NN155A. -   Leaf description:     -   -   Arrangement.—Rosette, spiral phyllotaxis; simple; sessile,             clasping.         -   Shape.—Narrowly oblong with broad sheathing base.         -   Apex.—Cuspidate to aristate.         -   Base.—Truncate, clasping.         -   Margin.—Serrate, spinose.         -   Length.—About 28 cm.         -   Width, mid-section.—About 5.5 cm.         -   Width, base.—About 8.25 cm.         -   Texture and luster, upper and lower surfaces.—Smooth,             glabrous; leathery; longitudinally ribbed; glossy, shiny.         -   Venation pattern.—Parallel.         -   Color.—Lower leaves, upper surface: Margins, darker green             than 147A; longitudinal stripes, close to darker green than             147A, 146A, N144A, 144A, 154D, 8C, 8D, N57A and N57B; fading             towards the base, close to 157B to 157C; venation, similar             to lamina colors. Lower leaves, lower surface: Margins,             darker green than 146A; longitudinal stripes, close to 147A,             146A, 144A, 144B, 154D and 8D; red purple stripes from upper             surface are visible; fading towards the base, close to 157B             to 157C; venation, similar to lamina colors. Upper leaves,             upper surface: Close to 60A; towards the base, close to             N155A; venation, similar to lamina colors. Upper leaves,             lower surface: Close to 60B; towards the base, close to             N155A; venation, similar to lamina colors. -   Inflorescence description:     -   -   Inflorescence form.—Terminal flat-topped compact corymb             located inside the leaf rosette; about 54 flowers develop             per inflorescence.         -   Time to flower.—Plants begin flowering about nine to eleven             weeks after planting; plants flower naturally during the             spring in Florida.         -   Flower longevity.—Individual flowers last about one to two             days on the plant; flowers persistent; inflorescences last             about eight weeks in the interiorscape and about 16 weeks in             the landscape.         -   Fragrance.—None detected.         -   Inflorescence length.—About 6 cm.         -   Inflorescence diameter.—About 4.75 cm.         -   Flower size.—Length: About 4.5 cm. Diameter: About 7 mm.         -   Flower buds.—Length: About 2.5 cm. Diameter: About 3 mm.             Shape: Narrowly elongate. Color: Close to 144A; towards the             base, close to NN155D.         -   Petals.—Quantity per flower: Three in a single whorl. Shape:             Oblanceolate. Apex: Sharply acuminate. Base: Truncate.             Margin: Entire. Length: About 3 cm. Width: About 6 mm.             Texture and luster, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth,             glabrous; matte. Color: When opening, upper (inner) surface:             Close to 93B; towards the base, close to NN155D. When             opening, lower (outer) surface: Close to 93C to 93D; towards             the base, close to NN155D. Fully opened, upper (inner)             surface: Close to 93B, 93C and 93D; towards the base, close             to NN155D. Fully opened, lower (outer) surface: Close to             93D; towards the base, close to NN155D.         -   Flower bracts.—Quantity per flower: One. Shape: Narrowly             oblong. Length: About 3 cm. Width: About 7 mm. Texture,             upper and lower surfaces: Membraneous. Color, upper and             lower surfaces: Close to 145D.         -   Sepals.—Quantity per flower: Three in a single whorl. Shape:             Narrowly oblong. Apex: Acuminate. Base: Truncate. Margin:             Entire. Length: About 2.4 cm. Width: About 5 mm. Texture and             luster, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous; glossy,             shiny. Color, upper surface: Close to 146C to 146D; towards             the base, close to 146D. Color, lower surface: Close to 146B             to 146C; towards the base, closer to 146D.         -   Peduncles.—Length: About 1.75 cm. Diameter: About 1.5 cm.             Strength: Strong. Aspect: Typically erect. Texture: Smooth,             glabrous. Color: Close to NN155D.         -   Pedicels.—Length: About 7.5 mm. Diameter: About 3 mm.             Strength: Strong. Aspect: Typically erect to outward and             curving upright. Texture: Smooth, glabrous. Color: Close to             NN155D.         -   Stamens.—Quantity per flower: Six. Filament length: About             1.1 cm; partially adnate to the petals. Filament color:             Close to NN155D. Anther shape: Lanceolate. Anther length:             About 6 mm. Anther color: Close to 158B to 158C. Pollen             amount: Moderate. Pollen color: Close to 158B to 158C.         -   Pistils.—Quantity per flower: One. Pistil length: About             2.75 cm. Stigma shape: Elongated oblong. Stigma color: Close             to 157B to 157C. Style length: About 1.8 cm. Style color:             Close to NN155D. Ovary color: Close to 155B.         -   Fruits and seeds.—To date, fruit and seed production have             not been observed on plants of the new Neoregelia. -   Temperature tolerance: Plants of the new Neoregelia have been     observed to tolerate temperatures ranging from about 2° C. to about     37° C. -   Interior & garden performance: Plants of the new Neoregelia have     been observed to have good postproduction longevity under interior     conditions and to have good garden performance. -   Pathogen & pest resistance: Plants of the new Neoregelia have been     observed to be relatively resistant to pathogens such as Pythium,     Phytophthora and Exserohilium. Resistance to pests and other     pathogens common to Neoregelia plants has not been observed. 

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct Neoregelia plant named ‘Secret Garden’ as illustrated and described. 